Joint tenancy vs tenancy in common for unmarried couples in Ireland My partner and I plan to buy a property together and are unsure of the legal consequences if one of us was to die or if our...

Is it worth it to risk building a home on family land without title? The fact planning permission was obtained with your aunt’s cooperation does not, in itself, give rise to ownership rights. However...

Turning a derelict farmhouse into a home — how the vacant property grant applies To qualify, the property must have been vacant for a minimum of two years immediately prior to the grant application...

My job is changing – and I’m worried what is coming A genuine redundancy must be based on the role being eliminated, not the person Image credit: Irish Examiner Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear...

The relationship with my spouse has completely broken down I need clarity on what I can do next and what the law allows Image credit: Irish Examiner Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen,  I am...

The biggest mistakes people make when drafting a will Starting the process is often the hardest step, writes rural solicitor Image credit: Irish Examiner Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen, I...

Selling investment property — what owners need to know The mechanics of ending a residential tenancy in Ireland are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (2004), and are closely monitored by the...

Security dog attacks — what farmers need to know Under Irish law, the owner of a dog is generally strictly liable for any injury caused by that dog Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen,  I run a...

I live abroad and worry I might be targeted by squatters It is important that landowners living abroad are not careless about the risks of adverse possession. Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen...

I warned my neighbour his dog was aggressive and now it’s bitten me I am very angry as I warned that neighbour that their dog was dangerous on a few occasions. Image credit: Irish Examiner The...

How do we divide land between our two children who don’t get along? We have 120 acres and were wondering what’s the best way to deal with the land given the fact that there is not a good...

Teens are trespassing on our land – what can we do? Dealing with giant knotweed is difficult enough without adding a difficult neighbour into the equation. Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear...

My neighbour’s knotweed is sprawling on to my land – what can I do? Dealing with giant knotweed is difficult enough without adding a difficult neighbour into the equation. Image credit:...

My new bull isn’t up to the job – how can I get my money back? While complete infertility of bulls is rare, approximately 20% of bulls are subfertile and will get some animals pregnant...

My neighbour’s drainage is flooding my land – can I stop him? Drainage is one of the most common areas of dispute between landowners – but the law in this area isn’t...

My father needs nursing home support — what is a Care Representative? Legal Advice: A Care Representative is a person appointed by the circuit court to apply for a state loan in relation to the...

Does my husband’s will mean I’ll lose my home? My husband left everything between our three children in equal shares. I feel very vulnerable; I do not own the house that I even live in!...

I just inherited my uncle’s farm – will divorce mean I’ll have to sell? Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Stephen, We are married a number of years and I am in the process of...

Fixing a boundary wall – what’s the best approach? Restoring an old boundary wall can be a headache for some – particularly where neighbours disagree. Image credit: Irish Examiner...

My cheating husband has written me out of his will If your husband left you nothing in his will, you may still have legal rights to a portion of his estate, writes solicitor Karen Walsh. Image credit:...

Landowner has blocked my access – do I have right of way? He has erected pillars on either side of the entry point of the laneway and erected a locked gate preventing us from using it. What...

We’re worried our son will gamble his inheritance away Our son has a gambling addiction; we want to provide for him in our will but are worried he will gamble it all away. Image credit: Irish...

Karen Walsh: I’ve been approached by a solar company – but don’t know where to start Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen,  I have been approached by a developer, and they are...

Karen Walsh: Should I pass on the farm to my son now or when I have passed on? It very much depends on a wide variety of factors, such as family circumstances, whether there is a child farming and the...

Thinking of buying farmland? Rural solicitor Karen Walsh gives her top tips Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen,  I am looking to buy some land to expand my dairy farm either this year or next...

My husband doesn’t want to make a will. What would you advise? I have been trying to encourage my husband to make a will, but he is constantly coming up with excuses as to why it can wait, our...

Ask a solicitor: My house is built on my uncle’s land – but we’ve fallen out Solicitor Karen Walsh explains the importance of ensuring a deed of transfer has been executed on a site...

Neighbouring farmer says he owns my shed The neighbour claims that the shed is within his maps and that he actually owns it. Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen, The farmlands that I own have been...

My partner passed away, but we weren’t married In the case of a married couple where one spouse dies without leaving a Will, the surviving spouse is entitled to two-thirds of the Estate, with...

A solar company wants to lay a cable under my land While an Option might sound like a pretty harmless document to sign, it will have long-lasting consequences for your land and the future, advises...

We’re not together but never divorced Even where spouses are no longer living together and are no longer in an intimate and committed relationship for some time, they are still married in the...

A family member wants to borrow money – what should I do? Mixing money and family can be a dangerous business. You need to carefully weigh up the pros and cons, warns rural solicitor Karen...

It’s really time I transferred the farm – what do I need to know? Transferring a farm can take anything from weeks to months… but rushing it is not advisable warns rural solicitor...

What’s the fair way to split the house after a break-up? We took out a mortgage together, and the property was placed into both our names as tenants in common in equal shares, but now, we have...

Is it time to think about a farm partnership? Having a well-drafted written partnership agreement is critical. There is always the potential within family partnerships, in particular, where disputes...

Can we have ‘our day in the house’? Is it possible to transfer the farm while also protecting myself, asks this week’s question. Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen, I would like...

My neighbour’s tree looks like it could fall on to my property Where a hedge is a hazard or potential hazard to persons using a public road, the Road Authority may serve a notice on the owner or...

Guardians, executors and trustees – explaining the jargon of wills Making a will can feel overwhelming to many, but you will be glad you did it in the end, writes rural solicitor Karen Walsh...

Do children have a right to an inheritance in Ireland? Each case is decided on its own merits and the court examines the situation from the point of view of a “prudent and just” parent, writes rural...

Could I be sued if my cattle break out? There is a special rule known as ‘Cattle Trespass’ that was developed to specifically address the situation where cattle stray onto another person’s...

We’re separated but stuck together because of housing Housing shortages mean it is much more common for couples who have ended their relationship to be stuck in the same home Image credit: Irish...

I’m worried my husband won’t declare all of his assets during divorce Withholding information on assets during a divorce can have serious consequences, warns rural solicitor Karen Walsh...

Every lawsuit has a dispute at its core. When two parties are unable to resolve their differences, they approach arbitrators and lawyers to help them. Not all go to trial but many do...

Every lawsuit has a dispute at its core. When two parties are unable to resolve their differences, they approach arbitrators and lawyers to help them. Not all go to trial but many do...

Every lawsuit has a dispute at its core. When two parties are unable to resolve their differences, they approach arbitrators and lawyers to help them. Not all go to trial but many do...

Every lawsuit has a dispute at its core. When two parties are unable to resolve their differences, they approach arbitrators and lawyers to help them. Not all go to trial but many do...

Should I be worried about trespassers on my land? Trespassers are a significant worry for many landowners, writes rural solicitor Karen Walsh. Image credit: Irish Examiner Dear Karen, I am always...

Divorce on a farm – who keeps the house? The family home in farming situations is unique due to the fact that it is usually in close proximity to the farmyard and lands, writes rural solicitor...

Every lawsuit has a dispute at its core. When two parties are unable to resolve their differences, they approach arbitrators and lawyers to help them. Not all go to trial but many do...

Every lawsuit has a dispute at its core. When two parties are unable to resolve their differences, they approach arbitrators and lawyers to help them. Not all go to trial but many do...

Does it really matter if I haven’t done a risk assessment? I know I am supposed to have a health and safety statement in place and Risk Assessment Document, but I have kept putting it off. What...